BILLY GOLDFEDER
FirefighterCloseCalls.com

While it is highly unusual for us to pass on information unrelated to active firefighters or firefighting, this one is special. We regret to advise you that Maurine E. Brannigan, 89, who worked as a teaching assistant for her husband Frank Brannigan (the Father of Building Construction for Firefighters, a fire-fighter safety expert who developed world renowned best-practices), died Oct. 29 at her daughter's home in Fort Collins, Colo. Mrs. Brannigan had dementia.

"Mrs B" was born Maurine Ellen Romket in New York City, earned her degree and she served with the Navy, stationed in Norfolk, during World War II. A longtime Bethesda (Maryland) resident, she had most recently lived in Port Republic. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Rockville.

Of course, her husband of 62 years, Chief Francis L. Brannigan, died in 2006.

The reason we pass this on is because, simply put, it was rare to see Frank, without "Mrs B". Be it at our own FD in the 90's or the many departments around the United States, Canada and the world, odd's are if Frank was teaching, she was right along there with him. And it was clear that, while both would be classified as "characters", Mrs B got to meet as many Firefighters as her husband did. So we wanted to pass this along to those of you that had met "Mrs B".

Survivors include six children, Anne V. Brannigan-Kelly of Fort Collins, Christopher J. Brannigan of Arlington County, Vincent M. Brannigan of Bethesda, Eileen B. Longsworth of Corrales, N.M., Mary Ellen Schattman of Philadelphia and John F. Brannigan of Rockville; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.